Cabane de la Dent Blanche CAS – High-Alpine Hut Guide

The Cabane de la Dent Blanche CAS is a legendary high-alpine hut positioned beneath one of Switzerland’s most elegant 4,000-metre peaks. Remote, glaciated, and uncompromising, it serves almost exclusively as a mountaineering base for classic routes on the Dent Blanche. This is not a hiking hut, but a strategic alpine outpost for experienced alpinists.

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Dent Blanche massif, Valais, Switzerland

  • Altitude: 3,507 m

  • Type: Serviced CAS high-alpine hut (with winter room)

  • Capacity: Approx. 50–55 sleeping places

  • Season:

    • Guarded: usually mid-July to early September

    • Winter room: accessible outside the guarded season

  • Managed by: Swiss Alpine Club (CAS)

• Access & Approaches

  Reaching the Cabane de la Dent Blanche is long, technical, and demanding.

  • Main approach: From Schönbielhütte CAS

  • Ascent time: ~5–7 hours from Schönbielhütte

  • Elevation gain: ~1,200–1,400 m

  • Terrain: Glacier travel, steep snow, exposed rock

  • Difficulty: Alpine (PD–AD depending on conditions)

  • Requirements: Glacier travel skills, rope techniques, alpine experience

  There are no easy escape options once committed.

• Facilities & Comfort

  Despite its extreme altitude, the hut offers functional CAS comfort during the guarded season.

  • Dormitories with mattresses and blankets

  • Half-board meals

  • Drinking water (often snowmelt)

  • Indoor toilets

  • Limited electricity for lighting

  The winter room is basic and intended for fully autonomous use.

• Food & Atmosphere

  Meals are hearty and functional, designed for summit days starting before dawn. The atmosphere is serious and focused, shared almost exclusively by climbers preparing for major ascents.

• Prices & Booking

  • Rates: Standard CAS hut prices

  • Discounts: CAS member discounts apply

  • Booking: Essential due to altitude and limited season

  • Payment: Cash preferred

• Best Routes From the Hut

  The hut is dedicated to serious alpine objectives:

  • Dent Blanche (4,357 m) – South Ridge and classic routes

  • High-alpine ridge and glacier routes in the Dent Blanche massif

  • Link-ups with bivouacs and routes toward Italy

  All routes require full alpine and glacier equipment.

• When to Go

  • Best period: Late July to early September

  • Conditions: Very cold nights, rapid weather changes

  • Main risks: Crevasses, icefall, rockfall, storms

  Stable weather windows are critical.

• Who Is This Hut For

  • Experienced mountaineers only

  • Alpinists preparing major 4,000-m ascents

  • Teams seeking a high, strategic position close to the summit

  • Not suitable for hikers or non-technical parties

• Practical Tips

  • Carry full alpine and bivouac equipment

  • Plan very early summit starts

  • Bring sufficient water or means to melt snow

  • Monitor weather continuously

  • Respect hut rules and altitude-related safety practices

Why This Hut Is Worth Visiting

At 3,507 m, the Cabane de la Dent Blanche CAS is one of the highest and most serious huts in the Valais. Spartan, exposed, and demanding, it offers experienced alpinists a rare and privileged foothold beneath one of the Alps’ most iconic summits—where preparation, commitment, and respect for the mountain are essential.